Drunken Strawberry Shortcake with Chocolate Mint Whipped Cream

This drunken strawberry shortcake with chocolate mint whipped cream is full of vodka and happiness! This post is a paid collaboration with California Strawberries! All opinions are my own.

Strawberry shortcake is such a classic, isn’t it? When California Strawberries asked me to come up with my own spin on the dessert, my mind immediately went to booze.

I’m not sure what that says about me but I do feel that alcohol is often the answer. Am I right? So I went to the liquor cabinet and surveyed my options.

Whiskey, rum, gin, red wine, champagne and vodka. While I do think that champagne would have also worked wonderfully in this dessert I settled on vodka.

I knew it would infuse a strong, neutral boozy flavor that wouldn’t overpower the strawberries. Because if you can’t taste the strawberries, what’s the point?

Next, I wanted in infuse an herb into the whipped cream. I contemplated basil or lavender but my heart kept returning to my new chocolate mint plant.

Chocolate mint doesn’t taste very different from standard varieties, which can easily be substituted in the recipe. But the flavor is slightly different and reminiscent of an after dinner chocolate mint.

There’s really only a hint of chocolate. I paired my drunken strawberries and chocolate mint whipped cream with a tender shortcake recipe adapted from Dorie Greenspan.

These delicate shortcakes have an amazing texture that work perfectly with the recipe.

Chocolate mint whipped cream:

Instructions

Prepare the strawberries:

In a medium bowl, stir together the strawberries, vodka and sugar. Cover and chill in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours, depending on how strong you want the vodka flavor.

Drain (save the flavored vodka for mixed drinks).

Prepare the shortcakes:

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar.

Add the butter and use either a pastry blender or your fingers to incorporate the butter and dry ingredients. The pieces can range from pea sized to coarse cornmeal.

Pour the cream into the bowl and use a fork to incorporate it into the dough. The less the dough is worked, the softer the final product will be. Kneed the dough briefly if necessary and a few additional tablespoons of cream may be added if it needs help coming together.

Divide the dough into 5 balls and lay them out on the baking sheet several inches apart. Flatten slightly with your hand. (Note: you can also create smaller dessert portions by dividing the dough into smaller equal portions.)

Bake for 15-18 minutes, rotating the baking sheet halfway through.

Prepare the chocolate mint whipped cream:

In a small saucepan, bring the sugar, water, and chocolate mint leaves to a boil over medium-high heat. Cook until the sugar is just dissolved and remove from the heat. Steep for 20 minutes. Strain the syrup through a fine mesh strainer into a small measuring cup. Make sure to press the syrup from the mint leaves to get the most flavor.

In a large bowl, whisk the heavy cream until it reaches a soft peak. Whisk in the chocolate mint syrup.

Plate the dessert:

Slice the shortbread in half. Add a generous serving of the drunken strawberries followed by a dollop of chocolate mint cream. Serve at room temperature.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

As soon as I saw the word “drunken” in your title, I rushed right over to read this post. I wasn’t disappointed – your strawberry shortcake is amazing! I love the twists you used (1 cup vodka, holla! And chocolate mint, yum).

I need to try california strawberries, I loved california oranges and I think I could say a difference with the one I eat in Europe (not californian). Shortcake with strawberries and alcohol – woha! :D

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